The Briefing Room
General Category => Editorial/Opinion/Blogs => Topic started by: Bigun on February 21, 2019, 06:16:38 pm
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The New Nihilism
by Victor Davis Hanson
Monday, February 18, 2019
As the 2020 election nears, there is as yet no coherent Democratic response to the Trump agenda. If Trump himself is unpopular and polarizing, his agenda is for the most part in sync with a majority of Americans who like the 3% annualized GDP growth; near-record peacetime unemployment; record natural gas and oil production; young, scholarly and constructionist justices; pro-Israel Mideast politics; and realism about NATO laxity, the flawed Iran Deal, and the Paris Climate Accord, Chinese mercantilism, and the past inability of the U.S. to translate battlefield victories abroad into lasting security and strategic advantages.
Yet hatred of Trump himself, as well as fear of a successful Trump agenda, has unhinged his opposition. From 2017-19, progressives sought to abort the Trump presidency through furor at his person and often pathetic attempts to invoke the Emoluments Clause, the 25th Amendment, the Logan Act, Articles of Impeachment, the Mueller special counsel investigation, former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe’s counter-intelligence investigation of Trump, and cherry-picking federal justice to stay Trump initiatives. All failed. Now the Left has decided to offer not just invective, but a new array of alternatives—often of a radical sort that we have not seen or heard about since the 1960s.
The Democratic Party is now in the hands of newcomer establishment figures such as Senators Corey Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Mazie Hirono; socialist Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren; newly elected representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib; and activists like Linda Sasour, Al Sharpton, Maxine Waters, and the usual Hollywood celebrities—all of whom Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and former Vice President Joe Biden futilely try to appease.
The result is that on almost every issue, the answer to Trump is neither liberal nor progressive, but nihilistic. The logical extreme alone ensures revolutionary purity even as it would result in chaos and destruction...
Much more Here (https://www.hoover.org/research/new-nihilism?fbclid=IwAR2yspmql9wwt49cYrr_Fo2ub6wVtnbgTLwTGQTdFebrjZRZRzhXtMVRh7A)
[Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy.]
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@Right_in_Virginia @EdJames @Sanguine @mystery-ak
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Some good points, some missed opportunities (no mention of the anemic birth rate, the most stark example of a nihilism-based society one can imagine), some wildly off-base dogma (there is literally no basis for Hanson's assertion that a dollar, once put into circulation, can only ever be taxed once) and baseless speculation of "crashing the system" that is about as hysterical as what his left-wing counterparts say about global warming. Meanwhile, the new left-wing billionaires continue to preach a progressive income tax so as to keep competition out. But Hanson declares, without proof, that wealth taxes (which would take these robber barons head-on) are unconstitutional, and that estate taxes (they're dead, they can't spend their money, and the Lucky Sperm Club did nothing to earn it) are somehow immoral.
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@Right_in_Virginia @EdJames @Sanguine @mystery-ak
He can call it The New Nihilism.
I call it The New Totalitarianism.
It is a subject I may explore on my robot thread.
Far left radical globalists controlling a large segment of the population with biased media, fake news, artificial narrow intelligence, social media, education, etc.
There are many facets of the left that can be attributed to the right. Such as the idea that Trump is a fascist, Divine (or Divinely inspired).
I find it interesting the use of the word "trigger'. I have been spending my time reading and researching a variety of things that include a quantum explanation for consciousness. A genetic explanation. Remote viewing, ESP, mass hypnosis, etc.
There is an interesting clip of Al Roker being 'triggered". He explained it as a "brain freeze" and it happens all the time to him. Listen to the term or word that is the trigger. Hmmmm....
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDYJ3CbgZog#)
People are being "taught" group think at an ever-increasing and ardent pace.
Some other useful tools are things like "climate change", terrorism, border security. Things that focus your attention because they are of "immediate" concern.
Here is the common thread between both groups-right and left: Technology.
I encourage people to REALLY take a hard look at 5G and it's implications. People don't get what is coming at them. But they will.
The dream of a true police surveillance state is about to commence.
The new totalitarianism.
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Some good points, some missed opportunities (no mention of the anemic birth rate, the most stark example of a nihilism-based society one can imagine), some wildly off-base dogma (there is literally no basis for Hanson's assertion that a dollar, once put into circulation, can only ever be taxed once) and baseless speculation of "crashing the system" that is about as hysterical as what his left-wing counterparts say about global warming. Meanwhile, the new left-wing billionaires continue to preach a progressive income tax so as to keep competition out. But Hanson declares, without proof, that wealth taxes (which would take these robber barons head-on) are unconstitutional, and that estate taxes (they're dead, they can't spend their money, and the Lucky Sperm Club did nothing to earn it) are somehow immoral.
Your leftist indoctrination is showing @jmyrlefuller.
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He can call it The New Nihilism.
I call it The New Totalitarianism.
It is a subject I may explore on my robot thread.
Far left radical globalists controlling a large segment of the population with biased media, fake news, artificial narrow intelligence, social media, education, etc.
There are many facets of the left that can be attributed to the right. Such as the idea that Trump is a fascist, Divine (or Divinely inspired).
I find it interesting the use of the word "trigger'. I have been spending my time reading and researching a variety of things that include a quantum explanation for consciousness. A genetic explanation. Remote viewing, ESP, mass hypnosis, etc.
There is an interesting clip of Al Roker being 'triggered". He explained it as a "brain freeze" and it happens all the time to him. Listen to the term or word that is the trigger. Hmmmm....
Error 404 (Not Found)!!1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDYJ3CbgZog#)
People are being "taught" group think at an ever-increasing and ardent pace.
Some other useful tools are things like "climate change", terrorism, border security. Things that focus your attention because they are of "immediate" concern.
Here is the common thread between both groups-right and left: Technology.
I encourage people to REALLY take a hard look at 5G and it's implications. People don't get what is coming at them. But they will.
The dream of a true police surveillance state is about to commence.
The new totalitarianism.
All enabled by one thing only @bigheadfred. The current Marxist tax code.
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All enabled by one thing only @bigheadfred. The current Marxist tax code.
I have been thinking about a poll concerning that.
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I also completely disagree that the dem party is in the hands of the newcomers. Stupid statement, IMO.
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I also completely disagree that the dem party is in the hands of the newcomers. Stupid statement, IMO.
I think he is talking about the public face of the Democrat party @bigheadfred. Not actual control of it.
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I think he is talking about the public face of the Democrat party @bigheadfred. Not actual control of it.
That's why the Democrats won't be able to shut down people like Ocasio even though they'd like to; she's too popular with their base. If you underestimate these people you will be defeated, though. They're not stupid and they absolutely should be taken seriously.
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That's why the Democrats won't be able to shut down people like Ocasio even though they'd like to; she's too popular with their base. If you underestimate these people you will be defeated, though. They're not stupid and they absolutely should be taken seriously.
Your naivety knows no bounds @Dexter ! The second she stops being a useful idiot she will be dispensed with.
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Your naivety knows no bounds @Dexter ! The second she stops being a useful idiot she will be dispensed with.
Establishment Democrats seem to not be overly fond of her. She's noisy and won't behave like they want her to. If she stays popular with the electorate I don't see how they can get rid of her. She is gaining name recognition faster than I've ever seen a politician do so.
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I think he is talking about the public face of the Democrat party @bigheadfred. Not actual control of it.
I think he completely misstated his entire theme of that idea with that paragraph. Futilely trying to appease? Hardly.
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Establishment Democrats seem to not be overly fond of her. She's noisy and won't behave like they want her to. If she stays popular with the electorate I don't see how they can get rid of her. She is gaining name recognition faster than I've ever seen a politician do so.
@Dexter
I tend to agree. Ocasio-Cortez might irritate Nancy Pelosi, but not the generation of younger Democrats who’ve swung far-left and are in favor of socialism. They love her.
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Establishment Democrats seem to not be overly fond of her. She's noisy and won't behave like they want her to. If she stays popular with the electorate I don't see how they can get rid of her. She is gaining name recognition faster than I've ever seen a politician do so.
And you suppose that to be organic but it definitely is not!
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Establishment Democrats seem to not be overly fond of her. She's noisy and won't behave like they want her to. If she stays popular with the electorate I don't see how they can get rid of her. She is gaining name recognition faster than I've ever seen a politician do so.
As one of the stupidest people out there given her elite education.
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As one of the stupidest people out there given her elite education.
Speaking of her, how do you have a degree in economics and not know the difference between a tax incentive and a handout?
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Establishment Democrats seem to not be overly fond of her. She's noisy and won't behave like they want her to. If she stays popular with the electorate I don't see how they can get rid of her. She is gaining name recognition faster than I've ever seen a politician do so.
Mostly negative name recognition, however.
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:pop41:
Speaking of her, how do you have a degree in economics and not know the difference between a tax incentive and a handout?
She blew through all her courses.
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:pop41:
Speaking of her, how do you have a degree in economics and not know the difference between a tax incentive and a handout?
Patrice Lumumba School of Economics.
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Mostly negative name recognition, however.
The left is absolutely in love with her, and conservatives in part have themselves to thank for that. She will probably be the president someday. At least she will run at some point and be a serious contender. I'd bet a lot of money on that.
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Mostly negative name recognition, however.
This is some great planning by the dems. Throw a bunch of radicals in front of the camera. Spouting some of the stupidest, outrageous, and indefensible ideas and statements possible. That "forces" the clearer, calmer heads-Schumer, Pelosi, even Sanders, to step in and propose something more plausible and attainable: The SAME carp they have been pushing and DOING for the last 100 years.
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The left is absolutely in love with her, and conservatives in part have themselves to thank for that. She will probably be the president someday. At least she will run at some point and be a serious contender. I'd bet a lot of money on that.
Uh huh
She says the world will end in twelve years. 2030...
Shill be my choice in 2032.
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Patrice Lumumba School of Economics.
That is hilarious!
"Where 'the best of the world's worst students'' come for an easy degree".
Lolol
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@Right_in_Virginia @EdJames @Sanguine @mystery-ak
Thanks, @Bigun.
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Your naivety knows no bounds @Dexter ! The second she stops being a useful idiot she will be dispensed with.
Dexter has a point. AOC is popular because her ideas are popular with a large, evergrowing segment of the Dem Party, the youthful Dems.
It would be one thing if she were the only Dem spouting Marxist nonsense, but you have the example of Bernie Sanders, an avowed socialist, coming close to getting the Dem prez nomination in 2016 only flouted by Hillary Clinton's shenanigans with primary rules in the Dem Party. And Liz Warren, Cory Booker, and Kamala Harris are saying similar things like Sanders and AOC.
I'd like to think mainstream Dems are rational and sane, but they'll go with the flow. If everybody else in the party is touting socialism, they'll do it too.
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@Dexter
I tend to agree. Ocasio-Cortez might irritate Nancy Pelosi, but not the generation of younger Democrats who’ve swung far-left and are in favor of socialism. They love her.
:thumbsup:
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"If she stays popular with the electorate I don't see how they can get rid of her."
@Dexter
By the electorate, do you mean the 15,897 people who voted for her? That's the only electorate she has.
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By the electorate, do you mean the 15,897 people who voted for her? That's the only electorate she has.
She's currently one of the most known names in politics. She's incredibly famous and popular on the left. Underestimate her at your own peril.
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@Right_in_Virginia @EdJames @Sanguine @mystery-ak
Thanks, will read this evening.
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She's currently one of the most known names in politics. She's incredibly famous and popular on the left. Underestimate her at your own peril.
Yes, and what a terribly sad state of affairs.
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Yes, and what a terribly sad state of affairs.
Will the economics major who doesn’t understand the difference between a subsidy and a tax incentive be the future of the Democratic Party?
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Inside every Progressive is a Totalitarian screaming to get out.
David Horowitz
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Will the economics major who doesn’t understand the difference between a subsidy and a tax incentive be the future of the Democratic Party?
Is there really much of a difference, though?
Subsidy:
Government pays a specific business. Business pays some of that back in taxes.
Tax incentive:
Government cuts the tax bill on a specific business.
In the end, the government's out the same amount of money.
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Is there really much of a difference, though?
Subsidy:
Government pays a specific business. Business pays some of that back in taxes.
Tax incentive:
Government cuts the tax bill on a specific business.
In the end, the government's out the same amount of money.
So, much money did NY save now with Amazon not setting up shop?